ICC World Cup 2019: Amidst crime and violence, Oshane Thomas crafted a career out of cricket

Oshane Thomas stormed into the limelight when he picked up 18 wickets in 10 matches for the Andre Russell-led Jamaica Tallawahs in the 2018 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). With a hulk-like structure, the young speedster impressed with his hostility in bowling. He was soon picked in the national squad for the India tour back in October that year and he made his debut in ODI and T20I cricket.

The 22-year-old bowled with venom and then went to England where he notched his maiden five-wicket haul at the highest level. It wasn’t a surprise that the stupendous shows earned him a call in the 15-man squad for the ongoing World Cup in England and Wales. In the very first match against Pakistan at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham, the 22-year-old Thomas was adjudged the Player of the Match.

He got a four-fer that helped the Caribbean team bowl Pakistan out for 105 and script a six-wicket Windies victory as well. However, amidst all the cricketing success, Thomas has a darker side to his cricketing success. Oshane grew up in a notorious town of Race Course in the parish of Claredon, Jamaica where he once saw one of his brothers getting shot and murdered at a tender age of 16.

My parents also always pushed me to play cricket: Thomas

“There was a lot of violence in that community. I kept myself away from guns and all. However, I became used to the violence around me, because it would happen every day. So I moved out of that violent area, moved to Kingston in 2014,” Thomas was quoted as saying in The Times of India (TOI).

At the age of 20, Thomas was also mugged while on his way to an ATM. Amidst all the violence, Oshane didn’t give up on his dream of playing cricket. He also got support from his parents for pursuing a career in the illustrious sport. “My older brothers played cricket in the backyard. I’m from a cricketing family. My parents also always pushed me to play cricket,” he mentioned.

Furthermore, Thomas talked about the ones, whom he used to follow in cricket. “I always used to watch Michael Holding and Courtney Walsh,” he added. Thomas already bowls in the 140s and he feels that he can ‘definitely’ bowl faster.